Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah distributed compensation checks to victims of the Gul Plaza incident at a ceremony held at the Chief Minister’s House in Karachi. SCREEN GRAB
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday categorically rejected reports of any 28th constitutional amendment and said no legislation was possible without the consent of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
Speaking to reporters after Eid prayers in Sehwan, the Sindh Chief Minister said that neither any discussion had taken place in the party regarding the proposed amendment nor any draft had been presented.
“Nobody has talked about sharing the province or the city and nothing has been discussed regarding revisions to the National Finance Commission (NFC) award. I categorically state that no draft has been shared with the PPP,” he said.
CM Shah added that no constitutional amendment could be passed without PPP’s consent and only the media was speculating on this matter.
On the upcoming provincial budget, he said the new fiscal plan would be “challenging” due to rising inflation, which he linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
He said the Sindh budget would be “people-friendly”, adding that any decision regarding salary hikes would be taken in consultation with the federal government.
Read: No move for 28th constitutional amendment, says law minister
Rumors circulate about the 28th Amendment; however, the government and PPP have categorically denied them.
The debate further intensified when Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said the government had plans to raise the voting age during discussions about the proposed change.
Countering speculation about the PML-N-led government’s plans to introduce another constitutional amendment package, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said there was currently “no sign” of the 28th Amendment. “Any move towards constitutional change will only proceed after consultation with coalition partners and other stakeholders,” he said.
Later, Information Minister Atta Tarar denied circulating rumors that the government was considering raising the minimum voting age to 25, saying there was no need to respond to unconfirmed claims.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also said his party had not been consulted on any proposed constitutional changes, signaling new strains within the ruling coalition over key legislative issues and the upcoming federal budget.
Read also: OPP pours scorn on the government’s 28th tweak plan
Bilawal said that while he and President Asif Ali Zardari remained in touch with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the government had yet to formally engage the PPP in any new legislative plans.
He also emphasized the party’s central role in the coalition’s parliamentary strength and warned that constitutional amendments and approval of the budget would not be possible without PPP support.
“The government has not approached the PPP regarding any new constitutional amendment,” Bilawal said, adding that the party had not been taken into confidence on the matter.
